In the high jump, it's the knowing that can be the hardest part. It's an event that requires not only skill, but a deft ability to deflect pressure. At its core, it's one of the more singular events in all of sports. No defense, no direct competition, no secondary factors besides crowd noise. Just a jumper and a bar. Oh, that daunting bar.

The crowd had long departed last Saturday night at the Armory in Manhattan. Only an hour or two prior, the famous Washington Heights track hummed with Millrose Games magic. But now, as TV crews worked on dismantling equipment and the custodial staff scooped up hot dog wrappers tossed in excitement, the place was virtually silent.

Without looking at the surroundings, late spectators might have thought they walked into a good ol' fashioned Suffolk county meet Saturday night at The Armory in Manhattan. Port Jefferson's James Burke and Northport's Mike Brannigan were coming toward the end of an epic mile run.

Insingo, a shot putter whose throw of 46 feet, 5 inches is the state's best this season, was returning two weeks ago from an official visit to the University of Nebraska. It was a perfect fit, she thought, and she verbally committed to the Cornhuskers last week.

When the numbers finally flashed, Hallett was greeted with good news, because she was a winner in 7.45 seconds, qualifying for the New York State championships, scheduled for March 7 at Cornell in Ithaca. She could breathe again.

Leto's winning 55-meter time, clocked Sunday at the Suffolk state track qualifier at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood, broke the previous county record of 7.17 set by Commack's Colby Lubman in 2010, according to longislandxctf.com.

The drought between championships was a long one, far more than anyone involved with the Uniondale girls track program had ever envisioned. But, at last, that dry spell is over. After a multiyear absence from the winners circle, the Knights staked their claim to Nassau Class A supremacy with a 94-point output Wednesday night at St. Anthony's.

The juniors were neck and neck for most of the 3,000 meters at the Nassau Class A county championships before Gerland used a strong kick in the final lap to inch ahead, winning in 10 minutes, 33.15 seconds. Moore was second in 10:33.66.

The legend that is the Marauders girls track program continued it's growth Sunday at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood. An 81-point output earned Bay Shore the team title at the Suffolk Large School Championships, its fourth straight county title and 14th in 15 years, coach Steve Borbet said.

The first title was a bit of a breeze, a 10-minute, 29.53-second victory in the 3,000 meters, crossing the finish line 11.22 seconds ahead of the field. The second, a come-from-behind victory in the 1,500, showed Lee's substantial stamina and resolve.

In her first season running the event, the sophomore has emerged as the top 55-meter runner in the NSCHSAA. That was proven in earnest Saturday when Hazzard took home the title in 7.31 seconds at the league championships at St. Anthony's.

St. Anthony's wasted no time adding another championship to its already-overflowing trophy case. This time, it was the CHSAA League title, achieved Saturday on its home turf after scoring 102 points. It was the Friars' sixth consecutive league championship, coach Tim Dearie said.

Fray won the 1,000 meters in 2 minutes, 59.67 seconds at the Molloy Stanner Games. Lewin, who was a half step behind her for most of the race, was third in 2:59.93. Mercy's Meg Tuthill edged between them at the line and took second in 2:59.90.

Insingo, in only her second meet with new kicks on her feet, won the shot put at the Hispanic Games Saturday at the Armory in Manhattan, throwing 45 feet, 10 3/4 inches. It was the second-best mark of her high school career, she said.

Sean Kildare, Connor Hatton, Aaron Zigrosser and Rory Hannigan won the invitational DMR in 10 minutes, 37.96 seconds. The time is currently the fastest in New York and the second fastest in the country, according to milesplit.com.

McIntyre had an accomplished career that included multiple county and state championships as the girls track and field coach at Valley Stream Central High School from 1977 through his retirement in 1988, his son Scott, 51, of Burlington, Vermont, said.

Next year, only Brannigan will remain on the roster. The McGowan twins will head to Roger Williams in Rhode Island, and Leopold will run at Elon in North Carolina. Behind them, they leave nothing but dust and records.

Bonhurst, the Smithtown West senior who will take his talents to Florida State this fall, won the national shot put championship, tossing 65 feet, 93/4 inches. It was his second national title of the season. He won the winter shot put crown, throwing 64-73/4, at winter nationals in March.

After navigating through a bunched up California start, the Miller Place senior ran with a comfortable lead throughout her four minute, 30.03 second victory in her signature event on the second day of the state track and field championships, held at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Hamilton's Sage Hurta, was second in 4:32.42.

They both got their wish on the second day of the championships Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Russell won the federation discus, throwing 185 feet, five inches; Taylor won the long jump, flying 24 feet.

The Florida State-bound senior from Smithtown West won the Division I discus Friday, tossing 183 feet, 9 inches on the first day of the New York State Track and Field Championships at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Steinbrecher turned in his best performance at the exact right time, winning in 9 minutes, 30.28 seconds. The time is a Suffolk state qualifier record, breaking the mark of 9:32.90 by Smithtown West's Jason Santos in 2009, according to longislandxctf.com. The victory qualified Steinbrecher for the New York State Championships, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School in Cicero.

Despite the hiccup, Velasquez's ticket to the state meet, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School in Cicero, remained untouched. He won in 9 minutes, 48.11 seconds at the late-season meet, held Wednesday and Thursday at Roosevelt High School.

Gruber won the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7 minutes, 7.78 seconds at the county state qualifier held Wednesday and Thursday at Roosevelt High School. The time bested her personal record by a whopping 43 seconds, she said.

By the time Fray reached the final straightaway, it was Duca and McCormack who were doing the chasing. Fray won in 4 minutes, 39.38 seconds. Duca finished second in 4:41.81. McCormack was third in 4:46.77. Fray's 1,500 victory came after she won the 800 in 2:13.49 earlier in the meet.

Slattery used a tremendous kick to overtake St. Anthony's Patrick Tucker, who had jumped out to a huge lead, and won in 9 minutes, 15.44 seconds at the championships, held Saturday at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island.

Jones won three events in class A-I at the Nassau class county championships, held Tuesday and Wednesday at Westbury High School.The senior won the 100 meters in 11.07 seconds, the 200 in 22.29 and the 110 hurdles in 16.07.

Udvadia dominated Division III. On Tuesday, he won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 57.38 seconds and the 3,200 in 9:44.44. On Friday, he added a 1,600-meter victory in 4:22.16 and ran anchor on the 4 x 800 relay team that won in 8:06.54.

It was truly a Guevara family affair as sister Talia, who finished fourth in the 800 and second in the 3,000 on Monday, finished fourth in the 1,500 race and helped Tiana, Lauren Nolan and Laura Barrecca win the 4 x 800.

Day one of the Suffolk Girls Division Championships are in the books and, although most events were semifinals that set up a Wednesday smorgasbord of finals, the first few 2014 county champions were determined Monday at Connetquot High School.

The home-track advantage paid major dividends for Santelli in his nail-biting victory over Chaminade's Sean Kelly in the 800 meters. Santelli won in 1 minute, 55.56 seconds. Kelly was second in 1:55.92. Santelli outmuscled Kelly on the final straightaway, thanks in part to his extensive knowledge of the track.

Stetz, who was a level nine gymnast before turning her attention to track and field, decided to give it a shot. After clearing 9 feet, the freshman won the pole vault at the CHSAA championships Saturday at St. Anthony's. Her victory helped the Friars win the team title, 100 points in the process, 35 more than second-place Kellenberg.

As Northport's Tim McGowan heard the news, all he could do was marvel at the symmetry of it all. Yes, he had won the 1,600 meters at the St. Anthony's Invitational in 4 minutes, 10.84 seconds, but he knew that. What he didn't know was that his time broke the meet record of 4:16.18, set by Half Hollow Hills West's Kyle Merber in 2007. Now that was something special.

Kellenberg's Joseph Panico still had that taste in his mouth, and it wasn't a good one. He also still had that cut on his shoulder. It happened April 12 at the Nanuet Relays. Panico fell over the final hurdle in the 1,200-meter intermediate relay. Kellenberg still won the event, but that didn't calm the fire inside Panico.

Twenty-three hundred meters. Two gold medals. Yes, it was a pretty good Saturday for Kellenberg's Jazmine Fray. Fray won the 800 in 2 minutes, 16.72 seconds and the 1,500 in 4:58.30 at the Knight-Time Invitational Saturday at Uniondale High School.

In a little more than a month, the senior won the New York State Championship in the 3,200 meters and finished second in the high school mile at the Millrose Games. He added another distinction to his season Sunday -- All-American.

Santelli, running anchor for the Friars, was able to edge Warwick Valley, giving St. Anthony's the SMR national title in three minutes, 25.95 seconds at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, held yesterday at The Armory in Manhattan.

Chaminade's 4x800 meter relay team, composed of Thomas Slattery, Andrew Dorritie, Gunnar Nolan, and Sean Kelly won the national championship in seven minutes, 40.80 seconds. The time broke the state record of 7:41.10, set by Boys and Girls at New Balance Nationals in 2012, according to Tullyrunners.com.

Long Island swept the top three places in the 4 x 400-meter relay. Uniondale's unit, composed of Kristina Cherrington, Michala Webster, Ashley Souffrant and Crystal Green ran a 3:58.79. Asia Jinks ran for Green in the relay trials. St Anthony's finished second and Half Hollow Hills East was third.

North Babylon High School Senior, Jessica Sheriff will be running track next fall for Iona College on a full four year scholarship. Jessica, a very talented and versatile runner became an All-American in Steeplechase last spring. She credits her success to two Alumni, Taryn Pena and Chris Moran, who have both mentored her, along with her coach James DiSalvo.

A 111-72 victory over second-place Farmingdale on Feb. 8 at St. Anthony's gave Syosset the Class A boys track championship for the third consecutive winter season. It was the Braves' seventh consecutive county title and 20th overall since 1996, encompassing cross country, winter and spring track, coach Bart Sessa said.

Dorritie, who ran anchor for the Flyers, willed himself down the last straightaway and across the finish line. He barely caught Fordham Prep's Conor Lundy in the final 100 meters, earning his team a time of 7 minutes, 53.03 seconds and a victory at the Millrose Games Saturday at the Armory in Manhattan.

The Uniondale relay team, composed of Crystal Green, Ashley Suffriant, Michala Webster and Kristina Cherrington finished in 3 minutes, 52.54 seconds, breaking their own meet record of 3:56.04, set at last year's games.

Mittleman won the 3,200 meters in 9 minutes, 41.28 seconds at Tuesday night's Nassau state qualifier at St. Anthony's. The victory qualified the senior for the state championship meet, scheduled for March 1 at Cornell.

Anointing Onuoha won the triple jump, going 37-41/4, and the long jump, flying 18-51/2. Elaina Hobbs won the high jump, clearing 5-3. Hobbs was third in long jump, flying 16-6 and third in triple jump, going 34-2.

Mike Brannigan hasn't missed a beat. The Northport junior, who turned heads with a fantastic Cross Country season, continued to show that he is firmly stationed at the top of the L.I. distance running scene yesterday at the Hispanic Games, held at the Armory in Manhattan.

Bay Shore's Imani McGhee knows that the time for game playing is past. No longer is she a wide-eyed freshman looking to make a mark. She's not even a sophomore or a junior, deeply lodged in the middle of her high school career. McGhee is a senior and, with her days in the familiar maroon track suit numbered, she knows it's time to get down to business.

Albertson's Gabrielle Schreib will be wrapping up her record breaking Kellenberg Memorial High School Spring Track season this month by running in the 400IH at the NYSPHSAA High School State Championship in Middletown NY and as member of Kellenberg's 100M Shuttle-Hurdle Relay Team at the New Balance High School Nationals in Greensboro N.C.